In Memoriam Johnny Gaudreau & Matthew Gaudreau killed by drunk driver while cycling (MOD WARNING. No Flaming, Trolling, or Politics.)

[soothsayer]

Sorry to hear that man…this tragedy must hit you extra hard.

It’s a little disconcerting that there is an immediate jump to vigilante social media justice by a mob who I can guarantee you don’t have a spotless record when it comes to driving buzzed or never ever picking up their phone while behind the wheel of a car.

I’m not proud to admit it but when I was much younger like two decades ago, I got behind the wheel of a car more than once when I probably shouldn’t have. I’ve also picked up a phone to look at a text while driving on more than a few occasions.

To me this is just a reminder to “be better”. Not to sit on from up high and tell everybody I’m the logical arbiter of justice because I’m a flawless example of human decision making.

Normal people don't try to overtake vehicles on the shoulder.

 

[Guitpik]

This is truly shocking and sad. Prayers to his family, friends and team mates.

 

[BelovedIsles]

Are you kidding, what!?!

That’s a significant name to lose. I had to look twice.

 

[francis246]

Sorry to hear that man…this tragedy must hit you extra hard.

It’s a little disconcerting that there is an immediate jump to vigilante social media justice by a mob who I can guarantee you don’t have a spotless record when it comes to driving buzzed or never ever picking up their phone while behind the wheel of a car.

I’m not proud to admit it but when I was much younger like two decades ago, I got behind the wheel of a car more than once when I probably shouldn’t have. I’ve also picked up a phone to look at a text while driving on more than a few occasions.

To me this is just a reminder to “be better”. Not to sit on from up high and tell everybody I’m the logical arbiter of justice because I’m a flawless example of human decision making.

I think what’s more upsetting is this guy wasn’t patient enough to not overtake. Where was he going that he was in such a rush? I live in a smaller town in the GTA and I see this all the time. Where are you going that’s so important that you need to overtake? You’re gonna get there eventually. It’s just something that could have been avoided.

 

[NYR94]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1829518836250599632

 

[danisonfire]

Noooooooooooo holy shit what? Nooooooo

 

[Appleyard]

ABSOLUTELY.

People don't treat hurling two tons of steel in each other's general direction with the respect it deserves. I used to bike commute to work every day for 6 years, and the amount of dumb shit I've seen from drivers is absolutely shocking.

We need to be way harsher on drivers. Get caught distracted driving? Automatic 30 day suspension. Even if you don't cause an accident.

Also when look at the report...

the idiot undertook at speed on a single lane road. Which is pretty illegal and dangerous at 10mph if a vehicle is not turning left... it is dangerous as a driver to do that in terms of your own safety, let alone others.

You can be distracted, you can be drunk even... but you have to be a total reckless idiot to undertake on the right side on a single lane road, likely putting tires in dirt in process of doing so.

This is a pretty extreme case tbh... drunk driving is awful even in its milder forms... but this was not a milder form at all... probably ~3-4x over the limit given drank 5-6 beers... and even still he was stupidly reckless with how he was driving.

I mean, damn, no one should drive over the limit and the impact even 2-3 beers have on your reaction times and judgement is pretty severe... but 5-6 beers does not make anyone drive THAT badly unless they are a total knobhead to begin with.

 

[Blitzkrug]

Doesn't seem right to compare this tragedy to cycling in the cities as some have done here

The latter is dangerous, but for completely different reasons. Toronto alone has already had 5 cyclists die in the last year and most agree those deaths would have been preventable if the city had proper infrastructure. I imagine the numbers are probably similar in other cities

This was caused by a drunk asshole who shouldn't have been on the road to begin with driving like an you guessed it, asshole.

Saying "well you're just demonizing alcohol because it's an easy scapegoat" is also a take. Uh yes, because it is generally illegal to drive while having over x amount of alcohol in your system. Crazy, I know.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Such an unbelievable tragedy. My heart goes out to their family on the loss of Johnny and Matthew. Such an utter gut punch.

Rest in Peace, Johnny and Matthew.

 

[TLEH]

Tough day in the hockey world.

 

[herashak]

One of the best players of this generation, good guy too, this is awful

 

[BLNY]

Unbelievably sad news. The day before their sister's wedding.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Normal people don't try to overtake vehicles on the shoulder.

It's insane to me that that poster and a few others have identified with the driver, felt guilty and used that feeling of guilt as a way to make it about themselves, about them being victimized by the people shitting on drunk drivers, and taking an heir of moral superiority for nut judging a guy for killing people with his car while drunk too harshly. It's the usual suspects generally, but jfc.

 

[5 14 6 1]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1829501530484900317

Hard to watch. An incredible duo slated to be reunited this year.

 

[Dr Pepper]

I don't actually. My phone is either in my pockets or plugged into the car for Apple CarPlay. The worst I do is that at a long red light, I may look at my messages, but the moment that light turns green that phone is going back into the console. I consider 'texting while driving' to be as bad as drunk driving.

I actually agree that alcohol may not even be the primary cause here. Some people drive like complete douchebags, and it reveals something rotten in their personalities. It's selfishness and utter lack of regard. It's never attractive to see in people, but it's particularly garish in situations where it puts lives at risk.

Even this would get you a pretty hefty ticket in Ontario, probably in a few other areas as well.

 

[Lame Lambert]

Put this guy under the f***ing jail.

 

[tsujimoto74]

What a horrible tragedy for the Gaudreau family. I can't even imagine what they must be going through right now.

RIP Johnny Hockey.

 

[Panthers Propaganda]

Normal people don't try to overtake vehicles on the shoulder.

Only the most colossal of douchebags do it.


Tells ya enough about the guy out of the gate-even before the alcohol.

 

[Roo]

So you're saying the Gaudreau brothers should have known the stats, that the US has absolute shit drivers and is generally an unsafe environment to bike at night in (unless you're on protected, designated bike paths)...?

That is not what he said, at all.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Thoughts and prayers to the Gaudreau family during this unspeakable tragedy.

 

[Panteras]

Dear god this just keeps getting worse and worse

 

[Fataldogg]

Incredibly sad. 31 is too young. He still had a lot of life in front of him.

Even more sad, I read his sister is getting married today, and he was supposed to be a groomsman. Hope his family can pull through this. What a loss.

 

[Ezekial]

An absolute tragedy. My heart goes out to the family on what should've been one of the best days of their lives.

Reckless driving is an epidemic, usually it's just someone trying to save a couple minutes or responding to a text that isn't important.

 

[bleedgreen]

I woke up to a text about this and when I checked it made me sick to my stomach. Home with his family for his sisters wedding and killed side by side with his brother. This is awful. Rip to Johnny and Matthew, thanks for both of your contributions to hockey. JG was the rare small guy who was so good he could score against the big guys at every level.

I can’t imagine what this has done to the Gaudreau family. To his sister and her fiancée. They’re all in my thoughts and this one is going to stick for awhile. I’m so sorry for their loss.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

I work in the funeral industry. As always said life is precious. Theres no guarantee you will be here tomorrow. The hockey world lost a good family man. My heart goes out to his family.